Shore Excursion Options in Alaska

Alaska is a vast and beautiful state, and a cruise of its southeastern coastline presents dozens of shore excursion options. With so many choices that accommodate lots of different interests and activity levels, you’re sure to find something that will please you and your companions. Here’s a look at just a few of Alaska’s popular shore excursions.

If you’ve dreamed of gliding over sparkling ice on a sled pulled by a pack of faithful huskies, check out the opportunities for dogsledding excursions. The huskies do the work so that you can enjoy the surrounding sights of mountains, forests and glacier-fed waterfalls.

If the adventure of trekking on a glacier appeals to you, a helicopter can take you there. You’ll learn to use crampons and an ice axe to explore the glaciated environment.

An Alaskan float plane can take you on a flight-based tour of spectacular Misty Fjords National Monument. You’ll marvel at the sheer granite cliffs before landing on a pristine lake that’s beyond the reach of most hikers and climbers.

To follow a route taken by prospectors with gold fever, ride the narrow gauge railroad over White Pass, which leads to the historic gold fields of the Yukon. Given the harsh (but beautiful) surroundings, it’s amazing that this railroad was first constructed in 1897.

A newer option, that receives high marks, is a crab fishing excursion on the Aleutian Ballad, a crab boat featured on season two of Discovery Channel’s award-winning TV series "The Deadliest Catch." The vessel has been remodeled for the comfort and safety of passengers, who learn about the thrilling and often dangerous lifestyle of crab fishermen. Crew members tell their amazing stories; demonstrate how to pull snow crab, king crab, prawns and perhaps even an octopus from the water; and sail close to majestic bald eagles.

There are lots more adventurous options, such as whale-watching tours, riding ATVs and zip lines, and sailing through College Fjord or along the Kenai Peninsula. Alaska provides many cultural shore excursions, too, such as learning about native Tlingit culture at Saxman Native Village, or touring remnants of Russian colonial days in Sitka.

A word of culinary advice: for a delicious treat, choose an excursion that includes a lunch of grilled, baked or smoked Alaskan salmon. Salmon or no salmon, ask your Cruise Holidays personal cruise expert to help you pick your ideal Alaska shore excursion.